Longtime SUP racer Emily King joins Paddlecast to talk about why she's signed up to be one of the first stand up paddleboarders to race the Devizes to Westminster this weekend. In its more than seven decades of history, 2025 is the first year the DW has allowed SUPs to race. Emily, along with Paddy McCormack, will be one of the "SUP Pioneers". She'll paddle nearly 125 miles from Devizes to central London over four days, and her experience will shape the future of DW.

Hosts Betsy and Billy ask Emily about her motivation, training, how she's applying learnings from her attempt at the Thames 200 Ultra last year, and what this means for the future of SUP in longstanding ultra paddling races like the DW.

After Betsy and Billy's interview with Emily, stick around to hear what happened at the biggest international paddling races over the last couple of weeks, and hear our Paddlecast predictions for who will win the upcoming Battle for Hercules in Malaga (SUP) and the South African singles and doubles championships (surfksi).

Thank you to our sponsors for making Paddlecast possible. Check out Tango Charlie Lights at https://tangocharlielights.com.au

Emily King on Paddlecast: The first SUP to attempt the Devizes to Westminster

00:29 Introducing Emily King

03:30 Emily’s motivation for doing DW

06:3: Is this a chance for SUP to prove itself to DW?

08:17 What about the race’s time limits, how is Emily approaching these?

09:26 Emily attempted the Thames 200 Ultra last year (streamed and covered by Paddler Media), how did that experience affect her approach to DW (which has 50% the same course)?

16:14 Emily’s approach to training for the DW stages race (feat. kneepads)

29:28 Paddy McCormack will be the second SUP racing DW, will Emily and Paddy race together? How does their approach differ?

32:47 Emily’s expected race time (or as much of the secret information as she’s willing to share!)

33:28 Betsy & Billy debrief on the Emily King conversation: Billy overcoming his “SUP scepticism”, and if this year is successful, could tandem SUP be the key to unlock a non-stop DW option for SUPs?

Paddling News: Race Recaps

37:50 SUP Twelve Race Recap: repeat wins for Tanja Ecker / PJ Simmons, 3rd place for newcomer from Costa Rica Carlo Arias, and a great DW “warm up” for Emily King who finished in 2nd place

40:45 Spring SUP Race Recap: rise of the junior and recently junior women, why Csillag Kocsis’ winning streak is even more impressive than it looks, and Andrey Kraytor’s insane 100m sprint that broke the 20 second barrier (can it be considered a new World Record??)

45:49 Amsterdam Waterland Marathon Race Recap

47:27 Australia Marathon Nationals Race Results

47:51 South Africa World Games Selection Race Results

Paddling News: Race Previews

49:28 SUP Battle for Hercules in Malaga

50:31 South African Surfski Championships & Freedom Paddle (South African Doubles Surfski Championships)

54:52 PADDLECAST CORRECTION. On the last Paddling News episode, we talked about the recent and current greats of GB marathon kayakers and between Lizzie Broughton and James Russell, missed out on the incredible Lani Belcher. Lani has phenomenal paddling results in marathon (and sprint), and it’s well worth learning more about her paddling career:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/canoeing/41216261

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lani_Belcher

https://www.canoeicf.com/athlete/lani-belcher